Headlight beam control



April 17, 1934. J. G. GARCIA HEADLIGHT BEAM CONTROL Filed Feb. 9, 1952 INVENTOR.

JOSEPH G. GaRcm BY' h hvu 77- ATTORNEY- Patented Apr. 17, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE? The invention relates to a device for controlling the direction of the light emitted by the lamp of a vehicle headlight.

An object of the invention is to produce a controlled and adjusted distribution of light from a headlight whereby to prevent glare effects with respect to the driver of an approaching vehicle.

Another object is to provide a light beam control whereby the principal beam projected from the headlight is directed against the road while the vehicle is ascending agrade, the present control means being generally classified as an antiglare device.

A further object is to provide a device of the character described which is arranged for application in a headlight of standard structure without requiring any alteration of the structure of the headlight or its lamp.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth or be apparent in the following description of a typical embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which,

. ness and has no special refractive features.

Figure 1 is a vertical section through a headlight showing the light beam control'means of my invention operably associated therewith.

Figure 2 is a vertical and axial section of the control means per se.

; in a headlight structure of more or less standard structure wherein an electric lamp 7 is disposed within a housing 8 having the open side of its cavity closed by a transparent pane 11. In the present instance, the pane 11 is of uniform thick- A usual concave reflector 9 is mounted Within the casing as a part thereof, and the reflector and housing are axially perforated at the rear thereof to slidably receive a lamp socket 12 in which the lamp is mounted by means of a usual bayonet connection. An adjustment screw 13 engages between the housing 8 and a radial lug 14 of the lamp socket for effecting an axial adjustment of the lamp in, and with respect to, the reflector.

The light beam control means of my invention in part comprises a lens 15 for mounting ahead directing its beam slightly downwardly toward the roadway.

The support arms 17, it is noted, extend forwardly from opposite edges of an annular base plate 18 which freely receives the lamp socket 12 in its central perforation and is arranged to have its circumferential edge portion engage against the inner face of the reflector 9 while disposed about said socket; this plate may be cupped to provide a larger bearing surface against the reflector. An helical spring 19 is provided for bearing engagement between the plate 18 and the rearward surface of the lamp 7 while the lamp is mounted in the socket. As disclosed in Figure 2, the rearward end of thespring 19 is fixed to the plate 18 by reason of its engagement beneath an upset lug portion 21 of the plate, and the spring encircles the base portion of the lamp. It

is to be particularly noted that the mounted insertion of the lamp in the socket must be effected against the resistance of the spring 19, and that when such mounting is accomplished the base plate 18 is firmly, though resiliently, held in its place.

It will generally be preferable to provide for an adjustment of the effective lengths of the lenssupporting arms 1'7; in the present instance, this is accomplished by forming said arms with outer and inner sections 22 and 23 respectively, said outer arm sections arranged for solely longitudinal adjustment thereof with respect to the inner arm sections 23. As shown, the arm portions comprise flat strips, and lateral extensions 24 at the inner ends of the arm sections 22 are bent inwardly against the outer ends of the arm sections 23 whereby a slideway is defined at the inner ends of the sections 22 to receive the forward ends of the sections 23. For securing the arm sections in longitudinally adjusted relation, complementary offsets and sockets may be provided in the opposed portions of the arm sections, this structural feature being particularly brought out in Figure 5. It is noted that the arm sections 23 are shown as comprising integral extensions of the base plate 18 whereby the assembly may be produced as a single stamping of sheet metal or the like.

Mutually coaxial trunnions 25 are provided at the forward ends of the arms 17, and said trunnions are arranged for engagement in complementary bearing openings 26 provided in the lens frame 16. As particularly illustrated, arms 27 extend rearwardly of and from the frame 16 and the bearing openings 26 are provided in these arms at points thereof rearwardly of the lens 15. The latter arrangement, it is noted, requires a counterbalancing of the lens for retaining the same in generally upright and operative position, and counterbalance weights 28 are accordingly mounted on the arms 2'7. Preferably, the weights 28 frictionally engage the arms whereby they are slidably adjustable on the arms 27 to vary their operativeness with respect to the lens.

Stop extensions 29 are provided at the inner ends of the arms 27, said extensions overlying the supporting arms 17 and arranged to engage said arms while the headlight axis is in the generally horizontal position which it assumes when the vehicle is traveling along a level road. When the vehicle is directed up a grade, the lens is arranged to swing to maintain its axis at the same angle to the horizontal as when the vehicle is on a level road, the relation being brought out in Figure 3. It is noted that the position of the counterweights 28 determines the slope angle at which the lens begins to pivotally swing about the axis of the trunnions 25, it generally being unnecessary to tilt the beam from the lens toward the road when the grade of the road is slight. It will further be evident that the stops 29 prevent any pivotal movement of the lens while the vehicle is directed down-hill.

While the light which strikes the lens 15 is directed forwardly from said lens to provide a concentrated light beam from the headlight, it is noted that the remainder of the light emitted by the lamp, and initially directed generally laterally of the lamp axis, is arranged to strike the reflector 8 for direction forwardly of and from the headlight. Since that portion of the light which is radiated generally downwardly from the lamp to strike the reflector is reflected generally above the axis of the beam from the lens 15, and may produce glare effects, means are provided whereby this light is reflected to the upper part of the reflector for addition to the light normally projected therefrom. Accordingly, and as particularly disclosed, I preferably provide a cylindrically concave reflector 31 beneath the lamp, said reflector extending rearwardly of and from the lens-carrying member 16, and being arranged to direct the light which it intercepts to the upper portions of the reflector 8. Since the light from said upper portions of the reflector 31 is directed generally below the reflector axis, it will be evident that the reflector 31 is constantly operative to conserve light of the lamp 7 for a non-glaring and most useful direction thereof.

Preferably, and as particularly shown, the reflector 31 is provided as an integral portion of the member 16. It is further noted that the arms 27 and lens-retaining clips 32 are also integral with the frame structure. In this manner the frame member 16, arms 27, reflector 31 and clips 32 may be provided in a single stamping from sheet metal or the like.

It is noted that the control means now described is arranged for mounting in a headlight independently of the lamp mounting; in this manner adjustments of the lamp 7 with respect to the reflector and of the lens 15 with respect to the lamp may be readily effected as required to assure the best operation of the lamp and control means. The special control attachment of my invention, it is noted, may generally be used when special headlight lenses are provided in lieu of the front pane 11, appropriate adjustment of the lens 15 only being required.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the advantages of the construction and method of operation will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains, and while I have described the principle of operation, together with the device which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative, and that such changes may be made, when desired, as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patents of the United States the following:

1. In combination with a vehicle headlight comprising a housing enclosing an electric lamp, a lense disposed forwardly of said lamp, a member providing a frame portion carrying said lens, support arms extending at opposite sides of the lamp and pivotally carrying said member and lens for a swinging movement thereof about an horizontal axis, counterbalance arms extending rigidly and rearwardly from said first member and adjacent said support arms, and means coactive between said support arms and counterbalance arms to limit the swinging of said first member to but one direction from a normal position thereof.

2. In combination with a vehicle headlight comprising a housing enclosing an electric lamp, a lens disposed forwardly of said lamp, a member providing a frame portion carrying said lens, support members fixed within the housing and pivotally carrying said member and lens for a swinging movement thereof about an horizontal axis, arms extending rigidly and rearwardly from said first member and adjacent said support members, means coactive between said arms and support members to limit the swinging of said first member to but one direction from a normal position thereof, and counterweights carried by said arms for adjustment therealong.

3. In combination with a vehicle headlight comprising a housing enclosing a lamp, a refracting lens disposed forwardly of said lamp for re ceiving and directing light from the lamp in a forwardly directed beam, a member carrying said lens in fixed relation thereto, support arms extending rigidly in and with respect to said housing and pivotally mounting the assembly of the lens and member for a free swinging movement thereof about an horizontal axis above the center of gravity of the assembly, and adjustable means to adjust the effective lengths of said arms.

4. In combination with a vehicle headlight comprising a housing including a concave reflector and a lamp therein, a refracting lens disposed forwardly of said lamp and adapted for receiving and directing a portion of the light of the lamp from the housing in a forwardly directed concentrated beam, a cylindrically concave reflector disposed beneath the lamp, a member carrying said lens and last-named reflector in flxed unitary relation therewith, and support means pivotally mounting the member for a swinging movement thereof about an horizontal axis fixedly related to the housing and above the center of gravity of the assembly including the member and lens and second reflector whereby the said assembly is gravitationally urged to maintain a constant angular relation of the elements thereof to the horizontal as the vehicle moves over a road of varying inclination.

5. In combination with a vehicle headlight comprising a housing including a concave reflector and a lamp therein, a retracting lens disposed forwardly of said lamp and adapted for receiving and directing a portion of the light of the lamp from the housing in a forwardly directed concentrated beam, at cylindrically concave reflector disposed opposite and beneath the lamp, a member carrying said lens and last-named reflector in fixed unitary relation therewith, support arms pivotally mounting the member for a swinging movement thereof about an horizontal axis fixedly related to the housing and above the center of gravity of the assembly including the member and lens and second reflector, and means directly coactive between an element of said assembly and the support arms to limit the swinging of the assembly to but one direction from a normal position thereof as the vehicle moves over a road of varying inclination.

JOSEPH G. GARCIA. 

